World champs reign in jet ski challenge

Manila, Philippines -  World champions Toshi Ohara of Japan and Omar Abdulla Al-Rashid of Dubai dominated their respective events to lead the winners in the second Sangyaw International Jet Ski Challenge-National Jet Ski Series third leg at the Cancabato Bay in Tacloban, Leyte recently.

The 18-year-old Ohara, a two-time world jet ski junior champion, swept the Pro Open Runabout class while Al-Rashid, the 19-year-old sensation who captured the ProAm Ski Limited world crown, also proved a cut above the rest in the Pro Ski class in the event held as part of Tacloban’s month-long Sangyaw festival.

Paul del Rosario, another world champion, challenged Ohara in the early going only to bow out after falling off his ski on the third lap. Del Rosario had a trouble-free ride in the second moto, but the Japanese simply shrugged him off and pulled away en route to victory.

The event was organized by the Jet Sports Association of the Philippines (JSAP) now headed by Harley David and the city government of Tacloban through Mayor Alfred Romualdez and Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Other sponsors of the event are the government of Tacloban City, Tacloban City Tourism Office, Sangyaw Foundation, Globe, Coca-Cola, Robinsons Malls and www.taclobanwatersports.com.

Local ace BJ Ang, meanwhile, bagged the overall runner-up trophy with another Japanese Jun Ikoma claiming third place honors. Del Rosario settled for fourth while Tacloban pride Raymund Romualdez, who finished second behind Ohara in the first race, wound up fifth.

Ohara made it a triple-kill as he also topped the ProAm Limited and the Endurance Race again over both Ang and Ikoma.

Al-Rashid showed superb riding skills and endurance on the stand-up ski as he went full throttle all the way despite tough condition in the afternoon.

Thai Veerapong Maneechom finished second while Del Rosario took third place. 

Romualdez and ace lady riders Jam Mangio and Abby Reyes were the only national team members who went home with championship trophies. Romualdez ruled the Novice Stock over Cebu top riders Butoy Gamallo and Manger Calderon while Mangio reigned in the Women’s class over Reyes and Japanese Akemi Ikoma.

Reyes beat all her male rivals in the Amateur Open, including runner-up Butoy Gamallo, third placer Pong Lee, fourth placer Manger Calderon and fifth placer Excel Torres.

Other winners were Ormoc City’s Marcos Larrazabal in the 2-Strokes class over Tacloban’s Randolph Kierulf and Cebu’s Jose Echarri; Cebuano Ryan Velayo in the Novice Ski over Jun Ikoma and third placer Dodong Arche of Cebu, and Take Ohara of Japan in the Executive class over Darrell Garbes and Cebuano Mike Pato,

For details, contact Kix Javier at 0917-3051970 or log on at [email protected] and Facebook  (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tacloban-City-2nd-National-Jetski-Competition/333030413409172).